Whether you’re looking for a quiet meeting room or an exotic party setting, Riverbanks offers a variety of event spaces for both daytime and evening use! By day, the meeting rooms and picnic areas of Riverbanks Zoo & Garden boasts such rare and uncommon backdrops as elephant habitats and tropical gardens. By night, the sounds of exotic animals may be heard as guests arrive for their cocktail parties and wedding receptions. Our event spaces are versatile in style and appearance, with capacities ranging from 20 guests to 5,000. With 8 unique venues to choose from, you are bound to find the perfect space for your group.
Waterfall Junction – Waterfall Junction at Riverbanks Botanical Garden opened in the spring of 2016 and is the perfect event space for a family night out or corporate reception. This 3-acre wonderland features giant tree houses, kid-sized playhouses, a grassy meadow and a 25-foot cascading waterfall. The splash pad can be included for a family fun event or turned off for an adult’s only option. This fun venue pairs perfectly with our picnic or heavy hors d’oeuvres menus. Waterfall Junction is available for private events after hours and can be expanded to include the Botanical Gardens for an even larger event space.
Sea Lion Landing – The newest exhibit to Riverbanks Zoo & Garden also makes for an incredible event venue. The exhibit is a remarkable recreation of San Francisco’s famous Pier 39 and features California sea lions and a harbor seal. Sea Lion Landing offers guests spectacular views and varying vantage points for watching these fin-footed favorites in action. Enjoy nose-to-nose encounters through a giant 35-foot-long panoramic window or relax and observe from amphitheater seating, check out incredible indoor sights both underwater and overhead, or get a broader look at the animals’ 250,000-gallon saltwater habitat from The Wharf view on the upper deck. This unique venue is available for private events one hour after Zoo hours closes and can be expanded to include Entry Plaza and accommodate up to 400 guests.
Safari Camp – Located in the heart of the Zoo close to Riverbanks Farm, Safari Camp is a rustic outdoor venue designed for corporate and social events. The pavilion is most popular for corporate picnics, family reunions and birthday parties during the day. At night, string lights hang through the entire venue, giving it a sense of elegance, warmth and converts into a space for events such as college formals, product launches, and much more. This space is great for groups over 300.
Ndoki Lodge – The Lodge is tucked away deep in the Ndoki Forest of the zoo by the Gorillas, Elephants and Meerkats. This rustic locale boasts high exposed beam ceilings, panoramic views of forest foliage and maybe even an elephant or two. The large windows that surround the entire venue give the space plenty of natural light and a sense of outdoor charm. In the evening, enjoy both indoor and outdoor celebrations, as the Lodge has an expansive patio with working fire pit, tiki torches and room for additional set ups. This space is one of our largest venues, so there is plenty of room for festivities. With such a cozy, warm and inviting setting, the Ndoki Lodge is great for any type of event.
Magnolia Room – Located in the midst of the bountiful Botanical Gardens, the Magnolia Room provides a unique space to host corporate or private events. With its stone flooring and chic interior, this venue provides a beautiful backdrop. This space has the ability to be used as a “blank slate” that can easily be transformed to fit any theme or color scheme. The French doors of the room open out onto bricked terraces, boasting views of stately fountains, cascading waters, seasonal flowers and Riverbanks’ beautiful Walled Garden. With the use of this space for an evening event, your rental also includes complimentary tram service for your guests.
The ARC – The award-winning 20,000ft² Aquarium-Reptile Complex is one of several extraordinary event spaces that Riverbanks is proud to offer. Architecturally, the building is divided into smaller, individual galleries, such as fish and other underwater creatures in the ocean gallery and sand-living critters in the dessert gallery. The various sectioned areas provide guests with a variety of interesting exhibits and creates a fun reason to showcase different global cuisines in a more intimate social environment. Some highlights include a presentation area featuring a 55,000 gallon coral reef backdrop and such popular residents as sharks, moon jellyfish and gharial crocodiles. The ARC is available one hour after the Zoo closes and is most popularly used for cocktail parties.
The Birdhouse – The Birdhouse is one of our most interesting venues that none can compare. Under a grand wooden pergola, your guests are first greeted by elegant Caribbean flamingos. Upon entering the sky-lit atrium, there are several geographically themed exhibit areas, each suited for either seating, bars, hors d’oeuvre displays or chef performance stations. Socializing and networking have never been more fun while in the company of penguins, hornbills and other exotic birds!
Tuskers – During the day, our café and event space known as ‘Tuskers’, acts as Riverbanks Zoo’s flagship restaurant. By night this versatile space can be converted into a contemporary event facility, ideal for cocktail parties and receptions. Stylish features include bamboo cloud lighting, a floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, and a viewing deck which looks out onto zebras, ostriches, giraffes and our 10ft alligator! This space is only available after zoo hours and its unique characteristics don’t disappoint.
All venue rentals include tables, chairs, standard linens, set up, clean up and an event manager. Come be a party animal with us and create unforgettable experiences in Columbia’s most extraordinary and unparalleled venues. For more information, call 803.602.0900.
